Living in Hope

Emma posted that the government is promoting a “Resilience,” strategy. Equip yourselves with 72 hrs worth of food, water, wind-up radios and torches, etc. etc. etc. in case of cyber attacks, civil unrest, extreme weather events, enemy attacks, (alien invasion?)... . I pricked up my ears. 

Back in the 1960’s, in the midst of the Cold War, only prevented from being a Hot War, I suspect, because of H Bombs, there was, “Protect And Survive.” There were Civil Defence films, pep talks and a graphic pamphlet with very useful advice on how to turn the cupboard under the stairs into a bomb shelter, and what to hoard in the event of a Holocaust.

 I was particularly chilled by advice and what to do with a dead body.

My recently deceased friend Wendy and I spent hours over a glass of wine at the Jolly Brewmaster mulling over the prospect of instant annihilation with a delicious mix of horror and awe. I wish she were with me now, to reprise the bad old days and critique the new Armageddon with the lens of the old. 

So I will buy tuna, long life milk and oatcakes. I will store water and keep my phone charged, and await the emergency alarm and head for the cupboard under the stairs. 

Where’s the hope, you ask? 

This too, will pass. 

As a woman of faith, I know how this story ends. I heard it from an angel:

“Why do you stand there looking into the sky? This Jesus who you has been taken from you into heaven will come back in the same way you saw him go.” 

Amen. Come Lord Jesus. 

[Autosaved] Advent -ures

I'm attempting to write this blog with an electronic pen - a cheap knockoff from China. Its a bit hit and miss, but is on the whole, coping well with my erratic handwriting. The reason for resorting to high tech is that I have chronic pain in my neck and shoulders, because I think I slept awkwardly A few nights ago, and am suffering the consequences. This is making Advent rather more adventurous than expected, but, hey! At my age a little discomfort is to be expected. I'm propped up in bed, head fixed facing forwards, tablet On my knees,  scribbling away. As A fan of all things electronic, I am rather enjoying myself. The eccentricities are a random refusal to print a lower-case a, and  a tendency for the pen to switch off at inconvenient moments. 

I’m  a fan of Advent , a time of quiet reflection, at least in theory,and take measures to keep frenzy to a minimum. There is only one gift to buy, as "secret Santa“ allocates one family for the receipt of my seasonal generosity- I haven’t known what to buy anyone since they passed the soft toy phase, so the purchase of a mini-waffle maker for one branch of the clan sorts out much rumination, and saves a lot of money. I recommend this to all grandparents. 

Ray sends out the electronic Christmas cards about now, so if you’re reading this, you probably got one. If didn’t, leave your email in the comments below.